Improvement in earth-augers



G. WATSON.

EARTH AUGER.

N.PETRS. FNOTO-LITHDGRAPKER. WASHINGTDN, D C.

UNITED STATES PTET EET GEORGE WATSON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN EARTH-AUGERS.

Specifica-tion forming part of Letters Patent No. 187,241, datedFebruary 13, 1877; application tiled February 21, 1876.

To all whom t may concern Be itknown that I, GEORGE WATSON, of Oakland,in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Earth-Angers, ot which the following is aspecification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved posthole digger orearth-borer, and Fig. 2 is a view of the blade ot' the same.

The following is the construction of the same: A represents the handle.B B represent the two prongs by which the saine is attached to theblade. (l represents the blade. D represents the curved edge, and E thecuttingedge, which is straight and stands out, forining the outer edgeof a volute or scroll and the cuttingedge of the borer.V

The blade C is shown at Fig. 2 in the form of the flat sheet, of whichthe blade is formed by rolling in a volute form, as shown.

The object of my invention is to avoid the effect of atmosphericpressure in lifting the earth from the hole and to reduce the amount ofresistance in penetrating hard soil.

The following is the. operation of the same:

The point is placed upon the ground con.

centric with the position designed for the post. The handle is thenturned, and a suitable pressure applied to force the blade into theground. It enters freely, and when about two-thirds full it is withdrawnand discharged,

and again placed down, When it fills with much less exertion on the partot' the operator. This time it is filled to the top, when it is readilyWithdrawn, the inclined or tapering sides serving the double purpose of'packing the loose sand or earth for lifting out and 'reeing from thesides to relieve the atmospheric pressure.

In case the posthole is not properly centered to receive the post in therequired line, the side may be readily shaved or cnt down as with ashovel.

The same effect produced by my improved borer may bo had, but in a lessperfect ninnner, by producing only a portion ol" the scroll or voluteplate, but I have shown the most complete form for all kinds of soil. ItWill take in quite large stones and bring them up with the othermaterial.

The cutting edge may be more or less raised out or the opening madewider to suit the nature of the soil.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The conical scroll-shapedblade C, having the straight edge E, curved edge D, and spiral openpoint F, substantially as specified.

GEORGE WATSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. REDsToNE, ALBERT E. REDsToNE.

